VAUDECORCE The Vineyard
The vineyard is just over half a hectare of steep south-facing Kimmeridgean limestone near Chichée, a hamlet south-east of Chablis. The little
The Chardonnay clones with which the vineyard was planted in 1999 were chosen by owner Chris Watson, with a steely focus on quality, intensity, minerality and complexity, where other growers often opt for safety, volume or simplicity. The density of planting is particularly high for an AOC Chablis, at 8,000 vines per hectare, giving greater concentration and deeper roots, which leads to a wine exceptionally faithful to its terroir, because of a deeper and a more stable root structure.
The owner has planted roses at the end of the rows of vines. These act as indicators of problems with soil or disease but also add colour to the vineyard.
NOTE: Planting plan for one of Chris's vineyards.